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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Two leaders of a large-scale methamphetamine organization have been sentenced to 16 years and 8 months each in federal prison, plus five years of supervised release.
Adan Mendoza, 36, from Dallas, Texas, was sentenced on July 19, while Brian I. Wilson, 37, from Little Rock, was sentenced on July 12.
According to the source article, Wilson and Mendoza were the main defendants in a 20-count, nine-defendant indictment returned by a federal grand jury on September 8, 2022.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) started investigating the drug trafficking ring in central Arkansas in late 2021. They found that Wilson ran the ring locally, supplied by Mendoza from Dallas.
Wilson transported the drugs by car or had associates pick them up weekly before distributing them to many people in Arkansas.
The DEA used confidential informants to buy a kilogram of meth directly from Wilson twice. Eventually, they seized five kilograms of meth and one kilogram of cocaine from him after a traffic stop on his way back from Dallas.
Mendoza was also involved in a separate federal conspiracy in Texas that began in 2019.
During surveillance in Dallas, DEA agents saw Mendoza meet with Michael Odom, a co-defendant and associate of Wilson, who then left with a large bag.
After a high-speed chase with police, Odom was arrested, and officials recovered 2.8 kilograms of meth he had received from Mendoza.
According to the source, all nine defendants in the case have pleaded guilty.
This includes David Chad Lane, 47, from North Little Rock, who received 96 months in prison, and Samuel L. Johnson, 37, from Little Rock, who faces 65 months in prison. The remaining defendants will be sentenced later.
In March 2024, Mendoza and Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine.
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Each was held responsible for distributing between 5-15 kilograms of meth, which carries a 10-year minimum sentence in their plea agreements.
The investigation was led by the DEA, with help from the Arkansas State Police, North Little Rock Police Department, Little Rock Police Department, Lonoke Sheriff’s Office, and Arkansas Community Correction.